Healthy Living Initiatives

Healthy Living for a Lifetime
Challenge yourself to lead a Healthier Lifestyle 

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in our community and is affecting all parts of our lives.   In response to this, TV 19 and the La Crosse Tribune launched, in October 2003, a 6 month Healthy Living: Today not Tomorrow initiative.  Over 1600 people came forward and made the commitment to eat healthier, lose weight and be more physically active. As a follow up to this initiative, the Health Department’s Nutrition and Health Education Divisions began a Healthy Living for a Lifetime series in April 2004.  The goal of the series is to encourage Coulee Region residents to maintain their commitment to healthy living and make it a lifelong habit! 

The Healthy Living for a Lifetime series encourages all who participate to set healthy eating and activity goals that they can incorporate permanently into their lifestyle.  Sessions are free and provide practical tips on healthy eating as well as easy, inexpensive ways to be more physically active.  Sessions are generally held over the lunch hour from 12:15-12:45 and again from 5:15-5:45.

Upcoming Healthy Living for a Lifetime sessions...

La Crosse WIC Program The La Crosse WIC Program is a federally funded supplemental nutrition program for pregnant/breastfeeding & postpartum women and children under 5.  It provides: Free healthy foods WIC staff choose a package of foods that meets your family’s growing needs.  A combination of milk, 100% juice, eggs, cheese, cereal, peanut butter, beans, tuna, carrots and infant formula may be provided.  During the summer, participants over 6 months of age may receive vouchers to spend at area farmer’s markets for fresh Wisconsin fruits, vegetables & herbs. Practical Nutrition Tips WIC staff provides you with practical health & nutrition information to help you and your family be & stay healthy.  Information about Community Resources Want to know where to go for immunizations?  Free healthcare?  Water testing?  WIC can help!  Breastfeeding Information & Support WIC has trained breastfeeding staff to help you with all your breastfeeding questions.  We can also provide you with an electric breast pump should you need one.

To participate in the WIC Program your family...

Ø     Must meet the moderate income guidelines below or be a participant in Food Stamps or the Healthy Start, Medicaid or Badgercare Programs 

WIC Income Guidelines

Family Size                      Weekly Income            Annual Income

   1                                  $341                            $17,705

   2                                  $457                            $23,736

   3                                  $573                            $29,767

   4                                  $689                            $35,798

   5                                  $805                            $41,829

   6                                  $921                            $47,860

Ø     Have a nutritional need for program services 

To apply, contact WIC today at  laxwic@lacrossecounty.org

Occupational Health

La Crosse County offers a variety of occupational health services to its employees—nutrition services are part of that mix.  County employees have access to the following nutrition services: 

• Health Bits monthly newsletter- an emailed newsletter that provides healthy eating tips and helps employees decipher nutrition information that’s in the news.

• Individual nutrition follow up- if employees have questions about nutrition they can have those questions answered by contacting the occupational health nutritionist.

•  Health Challenges- each year, employees are provided with opportunities to challenge themselves to eat healthier and be more active.  Past challenge opportunities have included a 5-a-Day challenge where employees were challenged to eat 5 fruits & vegetables each day over a period of time as well as Activity challenges where they were encouraged to increase the time each day they are physically active.  

• Nutrition workshops-  Focused on timely nutrition topics, these education sessions for county employees provide more in-depth information about specific nutrition topics.

• Health Fairs-  Held once each year, the County Health Fair provides screening and health information to interested employees.

Prenatal Care Coordination

Prenatal Care Coordination is a Medicaid benefit that helps pregnant women get the support and services they need to have a healthy baby.  Whether its help getting health care, personal support, tips on eating healthier, information on pregnancy, birth and infant care, breastfeeding or assistance finding services in the community—Prenatal Care Coordination can help. 

Everyone, at some time, may need a helping hand with things such as locating childcare, dealing with family problems, quitting smoking or dealing with other concerns that cause worry.  A care coordinator can help during these times.  She’ll listen to your concerns, answer your questions and connect you to community services that can help.  For more information, call 785-9865 & ask to speak to one of the five (5) prenatal care coordinators.

 Breastfeeding Promotion & Support

                        Breastfeeding is the optimal way to feed an infant.   Not only does breastmilk contain the perfect mix of nutrients for infant growth and development, it also can be thought of as an infant’s first immunization—protecting the baby from many childhood illnesses. Research is finding breastfeeding can also reduce the risk of obesity as well as the development of some chronic diseases. 

The Nutrition Division of the La Crosse County Health Department is committed to promoting and supporting mothers in their efforts to nurse their infants.  Through the WIC Program we provide electric breast pumps free of charge to mothers who will be separated from their infants.  We also support breastfeeding employees when they return to work through our occupational health program and are active members of the La Crosse Breastfeeding Council—an organization composed of health professionals and breastfeeding mothers dedicated to making breastfeeding the nutritional norm for young infants in the La Crosse area.  For more information call 785-9865 & ask for the Breastfeeding Coordinator. 

Bilingual Programs

As a state Wisconsin is becoming more diverse as we are locally in the County of La Crosse.  As our county population changes, we must assure that our nutrition services are accessible to all—To assure Hmong county residents have the same access to WIC services as well as other nutrition programs we have trained bilingual WIC certifiers  and breastfeeding educators on staff as well as a Hmong Registered Dietitian.   

Through grants we have produced 2 nutrition videos for the Hmong living in La Crosse.  Eat Health, Be Active for a Healthy Life provides practical information about how healthy eating and an active lifestyle can help to prevent chronic disease.  Folic Acid for Healthy Babies provides information to women of child bearing age as to how they can either consume folic acid rich foods or take a folic acid supplement to assure they consume adequate amounts of this important nutrient each day to prevent birth defects.  For information on ordering either of these videos contact Maomoua Vue, RD at vue.maomoua@co.la-crosse.wi.us or 785-9865. 

In addition to the videos we have produced, we have also developed a 5 week wellness series for Hmong adults focusing on healthy eating and physical activity to prevent chronic disease and maintain a healthy weight.   This program is offered annually to the Hmong community & to organizations serving Hmong adults..

Weight Management Programs

Healthy Weighs

This worksite weight management program is designed to provide employees with health and fitness strategies that will improve their health.  Session topics include:  Getting Started for a Healthier You, Evaluate Your Plate:  What is a Healthy Diet?  Beyond food: How mood, habits and environment affect your eating, Activate Your Lifestyle, Shopping Smart, Meals in a Flash, Dining Out & About and Secrets to long term weight management success.  The cost of the program is $40/person.  A 10 person minimum is required to arrange a program at your worksite. 

1 By 1

The Nutrition division offers an individualized weight management program for those interested in losing weight.  Conducted by a nutritionist, this program works one on one with each participant to implement healthy changes in eating and activity habits to achieve long-term weight loss. The cost of the program is $150.  For more information contact Dorothy Schmaltz at schmaltz.dorothy@co.la-crosse.wi.us or 785-9865.